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Safer Cycling and Pedestrian Connection – Bridgwater Lakes and Bridgwater Trails

May 11, 2020

The June 9th Pedestrian Crossing Control Treatments for 2020 report identified rectangular rapid flashing beacons will be installed at this intersection. Confirmation is underway to ensure the ‘pathway connection’ is made between Bison east and west bound. I expect this will occur in summer of 2020.

I’m not sure if this pathway connection was missed in the design of the neighbourhoods or was never intended to be installed. Regardless, many people are using pathways on both the Bridgwater Lakes and Trails neighbourhoods and want to connect to each other to enjoy the fountains, access the fitness center, and just to visit the beautiful greenspaces in both neighbourhoods.

The main connection is to cross Bison Drive, BUT as there is no pathway, residents are crossing through the ditch. In September 2018, I made a motion requesting  the public works department to study and provide recommendations, associated costs and an estimated timeline to construct an improved and safer cycling and pedestrian connection between the two transportation corridors from the neighbourhoods of Bridgwater Lakes and Bridgwater Trails, which crosses Bison Drive between Appleford Gate and Bridge Lake Drive.

On April 21, 2020, the engineers reported back (see Full report) and noted:

  • There is a basis to install a controlled crossing founded on future growth in demand, latent demand, system connectivity, and encouraging mode choices other than vehicle travel for short trips.
  • The proposed crossing control is a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) treatment system, which has recently been approved by the Province of Manitoba. The RRFB crossing will be placed on the priority list for installation through the Traffic Engineering Improvement Program (TEIP) subject to available budget and City-wide priorities.
  • At the time of this report, the public service estimates the cost of this project to be $35,000 for a solar-powered beacon on a four-lane roadway with a median and an annual maintenance cost of approximately $3,750. The location will be added to the Public Works pedestrian crossing control priority list for future consideration based on future growth.

So, in summary, until there is more build out of the neighbourhoods, the City will not be installing any traffic devices to allow safe crossings.